In honor of Petfinder’s Adopt the Internet Day, Kitty News Network is sharing some of our favorite stories about adopted cats who made the news through their heroism, their important work, and their miraculous escapes from danger. Read on for some heartwarming stories about our favorite adopted kitties.

When Timothy and Patricia Shuhayda adopted their cat, Max, from the Humane Society of Lebanon County, Penn., more than two years ago, they never imagined hed return the favor by saving their lives. The courageous cat alerted the Shuhaydas to a fire started by an electric heater in a spare room. Full story >

Last May, an elderly cat wandering the streets of Gilroy, Calif., caught a lucky break when an animal shelter volunteer noticed her and brought her to a safe space. And now, Maddie is returning the favor: she has helped her new owner, 85-year-old Vi Taylor, rediscover her joy in life and reduced the isolation she had been feeling since becoming more or less homebound by a disability. Full story >

Prince Chunk, a cat found wandering the streets in Voorhees Township, N.J., was brought to a local animal shelter, where he caught the eye of 16-year-old cat lover and animal rescue volunteer Vince Damiani. When Damiani discovered that Prince Chunk had been abandoned because his previous owner’s home had been foreclosed, Damiani decided to start a nonprofit organization that would help people who were going through hard times by providing them with free pet food and help with veterinary bills. Thus the Prince Chunk Foundation was born. Full story >

Charlie was rescued from the animal shelter in Coronado, California, three years ago. Today, the large marmalade cat earns lots of “good kitty karma” — and lots of love and adoration — through his work as a therapy cat at Villa Coronado, a San Diego-area assisted living facility. Full story >

Carmina and her kittens were found in a deserted parking lot in southeast Washington, D.C. The family was rescued by the Washington Humane Society and cared for by a foster family until the kittens were weaned. The kittens were quickly adopted, but not so for Carmina. That is, until she was welcomed by the staff of the Washington National Cathedral, where she serves as the official mouse catcher and unofficial greeter.Full story >

Debbie Gray overheard a man at her Kansas vet’s office talking about having his cat put down. When she found out that the cat, a Burmese named Oliver, was healthy but the family could no longer afford to take care of him, she talked the man into giving the cat up to the humane society where she worked. A California man saw Oliver on the shelter’s Petfinder page, fell in love, and flew the cat halfway across the country to start a new life in his forever home. Full story >

Piper the Cat was rescued from Death Row by Lisa Douglas of Angellicle Cats Rescue in New York. The severely injured cat needed surgery to repair her shattered pelvis and had a front leg amputated because it was too damaged to repair. Now Piper, though her charm and her brave recovery, is winning hearts all over the world and she’s almost ready to go to a loving forever home. Full story >

Scrub, a gray and white Russian Blue mix, disappeared on a hot night shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the US Gulf Coast in September of 2005. But five years later, Scrub found his way back to his family, thanks to a microchip and the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi. Full story >

Charlie, who had earned the unfortunate moniker Voldemog because of his resemblance to the evil wizard in the Harry Potter movies, was languishing in an animal shelter in England until his story was publicized by British newspapers. But just days later, Charlie, who had his ears and part of his nose amputated due to skin cancer, was adopted and is now living a life of ease at his new home in Worthing, England.Full story >

Max is two times lucky: The Georgia cat got stuck in a 40-foot well, from which he was rescued by firefighter Jim Cadenhead and his team, who took Max to the shelter. One day Cadenhead called to find out what had become of the cat and was told that Max would be put down if he wasn’t claimed soon. Cadenhead talked to his family and they rescued him once again. Full story >